Original subtitles

Could you hold my net, please, Mr. French? I'm going to play tag.

Oh, Mr. French, if you see a yellow butterfly with black spots on it, try

catch it for me.

Thanks.

Is something the matter, Mr. French?

I suspect that Mr. French is suffering from an occupational disease that I call

the nannies.

The nannies occurs in an adult about once a year, usually in the springtime.

and is evidenced by a marked decline in interest in anything juvenile.

Nothing but a combination checkroom attendant and big game hunter, that's

am.

The nannies.

Oh, Mr. French, the special delivery letter arrived for you. I thought it

be important.

Thank you, sister.

You'll excuse me.

It's from England.

Hmm? London.

From my old friend, Cedric Williams.

Oh, good.

Then I'll go back to the house.

See you later, Mr. French.

Bye, Mr. Abertin. Mr. Harker.

Well, while not exactly earth -shaking, this letter might well be a cure for the

nannies.

Oh, Cedric and I were in service together many years ago, sir. He was

chauffeur I mentioned from time to time.

Oh, yeah, I remember.

Yes, it seems that his daughter is here, and he wishes me to visit her.

What's she doing in New York?

Well, according to Cedric, she was a member of a British theatrical group. A

small review. The group disbanded and went back to England, but Annie decided

stay here and try her luck on the American stage.

Oh.

She won't have to get at the end of the line. New York is swarming with British

actors.

Yes, that is a difficult ambition for a young lady, sir.

So, does your friend want you to help her get a job?

Oh, no, sir, no. On the contrary.

Cedric expresses very little faith in her ability as an actress. No, he's

me to do everything I can to discourage her.

Well, that's a switch.

Yes, it seems that Cedric is anxious to get her back to England and settle down.

You know, marriage and all that sort of thing.

Sure. Normal enough.

It must be at least 15 years since I've seen Annie.

She's just about Buffy's age.

Freckle -faced little hoyden.

If I may, sir, I'd like to call her and invite her over.

Sure, go ahead. Good luck.

Where's the paper? Oh, Buffy took it to her room, Sam.

Aha!

Here's your paper, Uncle Bill. Thank you. And your slippers.

See, we don't need a dog around here.

Jody, what are you doing with your uncle's slippers?

Polishing them up.

You polished the paper, too, huh?

Well, we didn't want the floor to get too messy.

It's just a little messy.

But Mr. French will clean it up, okay?

Oh, sir.

Does it occur to you that children are prone to take one for granted?

I never really thought about it much.

I have.

Bad case of the nannies.

How do I look, Mr. French?

Hmm?

Oh.

Oh.

Better?

Acceptable.

Mr. French, if you're having company, how come we have to get dressed up?

Because I don't wish Miss Williams to think that I'm in charge of a covey of

ragamuffins.

Did you really know her when she was a little girl like Buffy?

Yes. You know, I used to bounce her on my knee.

A regular little imp she was.

Loved nothing better than to tweak my nose or pull my beard.

She used to love to act even then. Fairy tales. You know, she'd play Little Red

Riding Hood and I'd be the wolf.

What big eyes you have, Mr. French.

Uncle Giles?

Just as I remembered you.

Only more so.

You're still the same sweet Uncle Giles.

I guess you can't bounce on his knee anymore or pull his whiskers. Oh, I can

still do that.

If we pulled Mr. French's whiskers like that... We'd be sent to our rooms.

Annie, I'd like you to meet Buffy, Jodie and Sissy Davis.

We're very glad to meet you, Miss Williams.

Oh, please call me Anne.

Mr. French called you Annie.

And all the Broadway producers call me what's -her -name.

Well, naturally one must realize that, well, becoming an actress on Broadway is

fraught with obstacles.

Maybe Uncle Bill could help her, Mr. French.

Uncle Bill?

Our uncle.

Like Uncle Giles is yours.

They're referring to my employer, Mr. Davis.

He knows a lot of people in the theater.

Why don't you ask him, Mr. French?

Well, I suppose one could, yes.

Well, if you'd rather not, I'll ask him.

Oh, no, no, no, no. I'll mention it to him at the earliest possible moment.

Now, if you'll excuse me, we shall have some tea.

I just knew Uncle Giles would help me.

Why don't you sit down?

Oh, thank you.

And I found myself saying I would ask you to speak to a producer, sir.

Between Annie and the kids they had you cornered.

But, sir, I am supposed to dissuade her.

Her father would be most distressed if I encourage her.

Listen, you could fill Yankee Stadium with all the would -be actresses that

to New York. You don't have to discourage her.

The casting directors and the producers will do it for you.

Perhaps that would be the more honest method, sir.

Okay, I'll call a producer tomorrow.

Very good. Very good. I suggest you make sure he's unimpressed.

Good day, sir.

Bill, I see dozens of actresses every single day. Now, I'll be glad to help

French out by seeing the girl, but I'm not going to promise to give her a part.

Well, that's okay.

That's okay?

Yeah, Zach, I don't want you to give her a part. I just want you to see her, you

know, audition her, and then tell her exactly what you think of her talent and

tell her to go on back to England.

That's all you want?

Yeah, I'll let her down easy, sure.

Boy, all the rest of my friends expect me to make their girls into some sort of

instant star, even if it means ruining my show, but not you.

That's all you want? You're a real true friend.

You know, sir, I feel like a rotter sending my

poor girl in there like that to be disillusioned.

Well, I told Zach to level with her. If she hasn't got any talent, he'll tell

her.

No, excuse me, sir, but marine rescue operations seem to be in order.

I'll get it, I'll get it.

Hello.

Hello. Mr. Giles French, please.

Sure, come on in, I'll get it.

You must be Miss Williams.

Yes, my accent gave me away.

Mr. Davis?

Yes. Well, last I heard of you, you were a freckle -faced little hoyden. Oh,

Uncle Giles.

May I introduce you? We've already met and we're all friends.

Mr. Davis, I want to thank you very much for arranging the appointment with Mr.

Hunter.

My pleasure.

I'm auditioning for him tomorrow.

Oh, we shall hope for the best.

Well, no matter what happens, I can't thank you enough, Mr. Davis.

You can start by calling me Bill, and then you can have some coffee with us,

go on in there and sit down and be comfortable. Oh, I'd like that.

Well,

move over now. I feel like a runner, too.

To be sure, sir, I'll prepare some coffee.

Uncle Giles, but I just couldn't wait.

What happened?

He liked me.

I don't understand.

Who liked you?

Mr. Hunter, Mr. Davis's friend.

Oh, Mr. Hunter, the producer.

He said he liked you?

Enough to give me a small speaking part.

Imagine, Uncle Giles, me on the American stage.

You don't seem very happy.

Oh, it's not that, my dear. It's just I'm overwhelmed.

It's wonderful, and I owe it all to Mr. Davis.

Uncle Bill can do anything.

Yes, well, I will tell Mr.

Davis the good news as soon as he comes in. Well, I already called him. He was

overwhelmed, too. As a matter of fact, he's taking me out to dinner tonight to

celebrate.

Splendid, splendid.

Mr. Hunter said I was just perfect for the part of the English shop girl.

So I laid on the Cockney accent a bit thick for him.

You sound funny.

Oh, Uncle Charles, would you help me rehearse? I've got my part right here.

And you can help me act out the scenes and help me with my Cockney accent just

like we used to, remember?

Yes, I remember.

Though we've both come a long way from fairy tales.

I thought you were going to take us to the park, Mr. French.

Oh, well, if you're busy... No, no, no, no, no, no. Sissy's available to fill in

for me. Okay.

Well, I only have an hour. I promised to meet Mr. Davis at 6 .30, and I want to

look my best for him. I owe him so much.

Come, sit down.

Is Mr. French ready to take us to the park now?

He's not taking us.

He said he would.

Well, now that his friend is here, he has to help her with her cockeyed

I lied the accent on a bit thick for him, Uncle Giles.

I can't understand you.

That's what makes it so cockeyed.

Pretty soon the butterfly season is going to be over in the park.

It's a good thing we found this old caterpillar.

Uh -huh. Now we can grow our own butterflies.

Gee, Buffy, I never thought Mr.

French would give up the park for a girl.

French, I'm not coming home for dinner. I hope you didn't plan anything special,

did you?

No, sir.

Listen, I'm going to see Ann later on. You want me to tell her anything?

No, I don't believe so, sir.

She's coming along just fine. Zach Hunter's very pleased.

Yes, sir.

Will that be all, sir?

Yeah, yeah. I'll see you later.

Yes, sir. Goodbye, sir.

Jody! Hurry up!

I had to hurry up and finish my last book.

You sure read fast.

I just skipped a few pictures.

I hope Mr. French will take us to the library now.

He will. We're almost overdue.

Let's go.

Jody, leave the caterpillar here.

But I'm taking him with us.

What for?

Well, pretty soon he's going to turn into a cocoon, and this may be his last

chance to go out.

I don't think they allow caterpillars in the library, even though they don't

make much noise.

Okay.

My dear Cedric, as you know, your fondest wish was for

me to discourage Annie from remaining in New York.

However, a most unusual thing seems to have happened.

What are you doing, Mr. French?

Well... Trying to compose a very difficult letter.

Want us to help you?

No, thank you. No, no. The proper words will come.

Meanwhile, you've got good aim at the basket.

Mr. French, could you take us to the library now, please?

Oh, well, Sissy's available.

We already told her you'd take us. She went out.

Nevertheless, I have more important things to do. Do you understand?

Maybe Uncle Bill might come home early.

No, no, I'm afraid that Mr.

Davis is once more escorting Miss Williams to dinner.

Again?

I thought she was your friend, Mr. French.

She is my friend. However, well, she's grateful to your Uncle Bill.

Don't worry, Mr. French. Uncle Bill hasn't got any whiskers to pull.

My dear Cedric, undoubtedly, you will find this a bit hard

to believe.

Come on, Jody, don't dawdle.

I'm not dawdling, Mr. French. I'm just turning kind of slowly.

Well, now, go straight to your room and wash your...

Cedric! Hello, Giles. Bit of all right seeing you again.

Surprised? Surprised? That's hardly the word, old chap. Well, I received your

letter, found it so alarming, I decided to hop over.

Oh, yes. Well, now, Annie, I can explain about that. Oh, incidentally, Cedric,

this is Jody.

That's my old friend, Mr. Williams.

How do you do?

How do you do?

Sissy and I already met Mr. Williams.

Oh, good, good. In that case, Cedric, I wonder if you mind coming into the

kitchen for a moment. I must put away some of the perishables. Of course.

Excuse me a moment, Cedric. Yes, of course.

There we are.

Now, why don't we just sit down a moment? Oh, please.

Cedric, I want to assure you that my intentions were the best in the world.

course they were, Giles. We've been friends a long time.

You see, I had Mr. Davis introduce her to his producer friend.

I know.

Annie wrote me all about it.

Her letter came in the same post as yours.

But you don't know the whole story.

What does it matter now? Think of it, Giles. My little Annie, a New York

actress, on her way up the ladder.

I think I misjudged her talent so.

Shows you how wrong her father can be.

You mean you're not upset?

Not one whit.

I have had a complete change of attitude about that girl of mine.

I just wanted to spare her another failure.

And you know whom I have to thank for it all.

I mean, it was nothing really.

There's no need.

There most certainly is. And when I meet you or Mr. Davis, I'm going to tell

him. We owe him a great deal, Annie and I.

Mr. Davis most happy to be of assistance. Too bad you never married,

Children can be a true comfort in the autumn of one's years.

You got my ticket?

Oh, yes. Here we are, huh?

You're going to change your mind and you should be going to this opening.

Oh, no, sir, no. Mr. Hunter sent you the tickets, sir.

I'll go on my first night off.

But Annie wants you there, not me.

Oh, I'm afraid on a night like this, sir, so exciting and all that, I fear

neither cares nor knows who is in the audience.

If it's on account of the kids, Sissy can stay home with them, huh?

No, sir, no. I promised to read them Oliver Twist today, sir.

No, and by the way, sir, if you wish to make that curtain, you better go right

away.

Okay. I'll fill you in.

Oh, Greg is late again.

Then I would say he's right on time.

If he should ever be on time, then he would be early.

Well,

I'm going to leave.

Good night.

Have a good time. You too.

Good night, sir. Good night.

Poor Mr. French.

You feel like Cinderella, don't you?

I beg your pardon, Sissy?

Well, your stepsister's gone off to the ball, and you have to stay at home and

sit in the ashes.

Stepsister, indeed.

Well, of course Uncle Bill isn't wicked.

But don't you feel disappointed that you don't get to go to Annie's opening?

After all, you knew her when she was a little girl.

Look, I do not feel badly, Sissy, and I wish Annie all the luck in the world.

Mr. French.

I think you're a very nice man.

Thank you, Susie.

Even if you won't admit that you feel badly, I'm going to wait downstairs for

Greg. Good night.

Good night.

Have a wonderful evening.

Like you promised.

Uh -huh.

Let's just see now.

Well, the adventure of Oliver Twist or the panished boy's progress.

Mr. French?

Yes, Buffy?

We just want you to know we're not going to depend on you for everything

anymore.

Only for being here when we really need you.

Chapter One treats of the place where Oliver Twist was born and of the

circumstances attending his birth.

Now, Mr. Bumble was a fat man and a collaring.

Calling for you.

But the play, it's still on.

I appear only in the first act.

We'll be able to get to the theatre in plenty of time for the curtain calls.

We? Of course.

Uncle Giles, I've been completely thoughtless.

I've been on this dizzy merry -go -round lately, and I just took it for granted

that you'd be at my opening.

You see, well, I have my duties to perform and... No excuses.

Mr. Davis stopped backstage to wish me luck, so I know you could have come if

you wanted to.

Of course I wanted to, my dear, but I just thought... Never mind what you

thought. You're coming to the cast party with me and then afterwards we'll wait

for the reviews together.

Not that I'll get a mention, probably. Do you think I'll get a mention, Uncle

Giles?

Annie, I don't know what this is all about.

Uncle Giles.

This whole evening would not have been possible without you. Oh, nonsense,

nonsense. It was Mr.

Davies. And I'm grateful to him. But my wanting to be on the stage goes back to

when I was a little girl.

And a very wonderful, kind man used to act out fairy tales with me and

tell me that if there was something I wanted very badly, all I had to do was

my dream in that direction.

And never, never give up.

And I never did.

That's why I want you by my side tonight, because that's where you

Annie, look, I'm not dressed.

Then get dressed.

But the children, I can't... Mr. Davis has arranged for a babysitter, and

be here when you're ready. Now, hurry, Uncle Giles.

Do you know, I think I'm too grown up for an Uncle Giles.

Tonight I shall call you Giles and introduce you as a very, very special

great honor.

However, I insist that I should be back before it's too late tonight, because

you see, the children take it for granted that I arise in the morning in

cook their breakfast.

You know, sometimes it's a rather nice feeling being taken for granted.